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d to refute the continued presence of Heller on Voltar； stating； 〃We have it on the most reliable authority that Jettero Heller left Voltar some time ago。 The matter will be brought before the Grand Council in its morning meeting。〃 Police Chief Chalp of Joy City modestly accepted credit for bringing the riot under such swift control。 〃My men are everywhere；〃 he said。 〃They are always ready for anything。〃 When this reporter suggested that the riot might have been a publicity stunt； arranged to bring higher recognition to the Artistic Club； the manager angrily pointed out that he had no faintest knowledge that Jettero Heller or his sister were in the club last night and that； in any event； he would never dream of imperilling the life of the idol of billions。
The gang who shot up the club have not been traced。
（See our special features； today and tomorrow： HIGHTEE HELLER； HUMAN OR GODDESS？ and THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JETTERO HELLER； THE MODEST HERO WHO BECAME THE IDOL OF THE FLEET。） I sat there numbly。 They had it all wrong。 I was not a gang！ I was just one man。
It was all Snelz's fault； I finally worked out。 If he hadn't made that silly pact with Heller to be at all times on duty； guarding； he would never have rented those edy cop uniforms just so he could be handy。 Snelz was too conscientious。 Just because he had heard shots； glass breaking and screams was no reason to believe Heller needed any help。 The idea of charging in for a silly thing like that！ Snelz had caused all this。 I realized I would have to discipline him。
But the very futility of doing anything at all settled over me。 I was just a chip of wood in the roaring river of fate。 It would do no good to point out that they were all secretly against me。
I just sat there and waited for the axe to fall； finally； pletely and forever。 Numb。
In midafternoon； I hardly even stirred when a big lorry drove up to the hangar。 The signs on it said： Educational Aids pany。
Delight your students even if they are children。
Entertainment is the backbone of Enlightenment。
Two laborers got down from the truck and boosted a long box out of the back。
Somebody called for Heller and he came down from the top of the hull where they had been restoring plates and shielding and trotted over to the newers。 He was all bright and alert； red racing cap on the back of his head。 A lot he knew about the sorrows of life。 The axe was hanging over him； too。 The thought vaguely cheered me but I soon slumped again under renewed pains in my stomach。
He directed them to carry the box in through the airlock。 I knew where it was going： into that lower hold storeroom。
Half an hour after that； I still had not stirred。 I dully watched a new lorry drive up。 It said： Mineral Resources Equipment pany。
If you think our equipment is too expensive； buy some and manufacture your own purchase price。 Sold only under government license to qualified and discriminating metalologists。
Two laborers got out and took down a long； heavy box。 Heller showed them where to put it in the ship。
I sat there waiting。 I knew it would e and it would not be boxes。
Finally it was there。 I felt it。 Sort of like an infusion of black poison gas into the scene。
A voice from behind a pile of crates： a horrible whisper。
〃Officer Gris。〃
Chapter 7
Lombar Hisst； disguised as a workman； lurked half…hidden behind the dirty cases。
His awful face was intent upon what he was doing。 He had a notebook in his hands。 From his secret place； he had a view of the tug and the swarms of contractor teams that clambered all around and over it。 In their pany…colored cover suits； each one bore plainly the different contractor names。 Lombar Hisst was listing them； each and every pany。
I came up and stood trembling near him。 With an abrupt motion he swept a copy of the newssheet out of his workman jacket and whacked it into my face。 I caught it。 I didn't have to read it。 It was another newssheet； a different one but it had the same glaring picture of Heller holding his sister over his head above the crowd。
Lombar had gone back to his furious notebook writing。 Eventually he was done。 He yanked me back into the cover of the crates。
〃You loathsome （bleep）！〃 he said。 〃I should shoot you out of hand right now！〃 He slapped his hand back against the notebook。 〃All these contractors working； working at vast expense and here you are； keeping it secret so that you can rake off all their kickbacks for yourself！〃 I hadn't expected that。 It was so unjust。 If I had tried to put the squeeze on any of these contractors they would have gone running to Heller and he； with his weird Royal officer ideas of honesty； would have beaten me up！ But I didn't dare open my mouth。
〃Well； what have you got to say for yourself？〃 demanded Lombar； amber eyes flaming crazily。 He didn't expect any answer or wait for one。 〃It was （bleeped） lucky this was a Grand Council meeting day！
〃The position you put us in！ Right at the start； the Crown threw it at us！ Oh； Endow is a fortunate fellow to have me。 When the Crown demanded why Heller had not left； I was able to counter it； no thanks to you！
〃I had Endow point out that the Grand Council allocation was so low that it was delaying the mission to Blito…P3。 I used it to raise the allocation to thirty million credits instead of three。 We can pretend there were other panies here that we own and you'll （bleep） well stamp the fake bills with your identoplate！ Do you understand？〃 All I understood was that I was not lying； that instant； a dead body at his feet。 I was grateful。
〃In return； you loathsome piece of trash； you are going to get this mission out of here by my deadline！ We had to promise that！ So be grateful！〃 I was very grateful。
〃What are those boxes I saw being hauled in？〃 he demanded。 〃He's got things there I am sure he's going to use to try to make this mission a success。 You know very well it must fail。 I have told you time and again we cannot possibly let it succeed。〃 He did not want any answer。 He considered for a moment。 Then he said； 〃Very well。 In two days I will bring a special crew in here。 You will distract Heller to some other place and we will inspect what he is taking。〃 Through a crack in the crates we could see the tug。
Heller slid down a rope and dropped lightly to the pavement。 He beckoned and five Apparatus hangar people came over to him swiftly。 They listened to him interestedly and laughed a couple of times and then sped off； quite unlike Apparatus personnel； to do what Heller had asked。
I glanced at Lombar。 He had his upper lip raised in an expression of the purest hate。 His eyes began to smolder。 Under his breath he was muttering about 〃athletes〃 and 〃Royal officers〃 and 〃snobs；〃 a stream of profanity mixed in。 There was no doubt that he hated Heller and all his kind。
Lombar suddenly turned to me。 〃You are going to have crew trouble。 That （bleepard） will get around them。 He'll breed loyalty。 He'll undermine your control of any crew unless I handle it。〃 He thought for a moment。 〃Yes； yes； that will do it。 I'll put the captain and crew aboard that tug the day she leaves。〃 For the first time； I found courage to speak。 I squeaked； 〃She has